A call for calming; Eureka ranks high in statewide traffic collision stats

Eureka has one of the highest traffic collisions rankings in the state, according to statistics from the California Office of Traffic Safety's website, often taking top slots for the number of fatal and injury accidents.

According to the state website, Eureka was ranked No. 2 out of 93 similarly-sized California cities for total fatal and injury collisions, No. 3 for pedestrian collisions, and No. 9 for bicycle collisions in 2010, the most recent year the statewide numbers are available.

Humboldt County was ranked No. 25 out of California's 58 counties for total fatal and injury collisions, No. 4 for pedestrian collisions and No. 19 for bicycle collisions.

This year, the EPD has recorded three pedestrians being hit in crosswalks, but Whitmer said the numbers are not up to date -- the department has taken more than 150 traffic collision reports since January, excluding minor fender benders.

Last week's collision involving a Eureka High School student who was thrown the distance of a crosswalk while walking at the intersection of Del Norte and I streets toward Eureka High School has helped galvanize a community push for greater pedestrian safety. A former Eureka High student also started an online petition calling for traffic calming measures near the campus.

In 2012, 43 pedestrians were hit in Eureka: 41 were injured, and one person was killed, Whitmer said.

Eureka City Councilwoman Linda Atkins said several people have contacted her regarding traffic concerns about different parts of the city.

Atkins said senior citizens are concerned about not being able to cross Fourth and Fifth streets because drivers don't stop, and constituents are concerned about the constant speeding on H and I streets.

"We take it seriously," Atkins said. "The major thing people have called me about in the last six months is pedestrians having trouble in town."

Councilman Mike Newman said traffic safety is not something to be taken lightly, but it's something that needs to be planned out.

"We're looking at it; we're not ignoring it," Newman said. "It's not something that's being swept under a rug anyplace, but we're not going to start changing the road right away without doing studies. If you're going to change a road, you have to find out what's going to go on with traffic patterns around those streets."

He said the council has funded another EPD traffic position, and recently put up radar board speed signs which tell drivers how fast they are going.

The council also is looking into adding more flashing lights for pedestrian crossings parallel to Eureka High School.

"There's always room to refine and improve," Councilman Lance Madsen said. "There's technology out there to assist: lighted boards along intersections, the city put cameras up. As technology improves, we should seek to utilize technology to improve public safety."

Newman said he has heard from a couple of vocal constituents about the number of accidents on H and I streets, but added that Eureka Police Chief Murl Harpham recently pointed out the number of accidents on Sixth, Seventh, E, Harris and Henderson streets to the council in his report.

At council's last meeting, city engineer Charles Rocklein said speed radar feedback signs have been installed on H and I streets, and the data is being analyzed. He hopes to have the results back next week.

In an interview with the Times-Standard, Rocklein said law enforcement has spent additional time on H and I streets in the last six months, and that the city will be putting in larger 12-inch signal heads throughout the city -- including H and I streets.

Rocklein said the city is also considering reducing the lanes on H and I from three to two. The city is examining the feasibility, advantages and disadvantages of the change, and will present its findings during Tuesday's Transportation Safety Commission meeting at 2 p.m. in the council chambers.

"We're trying to bring some added awareness to the drivers who are using those streets," he said. "We're very interested in keeping our city a safe place to live and drive, and walk and bicycle."

Eureka resident Alexandra Silva started an online petition, "Pedestrian Safety on H and I Streets in Eureka California Awareness," which proposes installing a divider down the middle of H and I streets to make two-way streets, placing more stop signs along H and I, and increasing police patrols on H and I.

"The day the Eureka High School student was hit, I was on the next block over, and that could have been me," Silva said. "I went to Eureka High School. I almost got hit walking to school every day."

"I just want people to start thinking about it," she added. "Something does need to get done."

Drivers aren't always at fault, Whitmer said.

"Just off the top of my head, there are quite a few times that the pedestrian is at fault," he said. "It doesn't matter if there is a crosswalk or not. Pedestrians can't just run out into traffic."

"It's kind of like a double edged sword. Cars have to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk, but pedestrians standing there -- just because there's a crosswalk -- can't just walk out into traffic," Whitmer added. "We've seen that on occasions. It's against the law for pedestrians."

A few of the traffic laws the EPD sees pedestrians break are: crossing when the light is red or if the hand is up and says don't walk, crossing in the middle of the intersection, and people standing in the center median waiting for a break in traffic instead of crossing at an intersection with a signal, Whitmer said.

On the flip side, drivers have an obligation to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk.

They are not required to come to a screeching stop for people standing on a corner waiting to cross, but do need to yield to pedestrians when it is clear for them to cross, Whitmer said.

The EPD also sees drivers who go around traffic that has stopped for pedestrians. It's the driver's obligation to stop because other drivers have stopped to allow the pedestrian to cross, he said.

Whitmer added that Eureka's high crime rate -- heightened under California prison realignment -- and the time needed to complete mandated reports, take away from traffic enforcement. Distracted drivers are also a major factor

Whitmer said there's no one solution to the problem.

"It's just kind of all over," he said. "It's difficult to enforce. You basically have to be there at the right time. ... It's difficult to be at a spot where people cross because people cross all over. You just never know where it's going to happen. If we knew, we would definitely combat that."

"We just have a bad collision rate here, and I wish we could fix it," Whitmer said.

If you go:

What: Transportation Safety Commission meeting

Where: City Council chambers, 531 K St.

When: Tuesday. Meeting begins at 2 p.m.

At a glance:

TIPS FOR PEDESTRIANS

1. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing.

2. Cross in the crosswalk.

3. Follow the pedestrian signal, not the overhead traffic signal.

4. Do not begin to cross the street once the red hand flashes on the pedestrian signal.

5. Wear visible clothing.

TIPS FOR MOTORISTS

1. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and at intersections.

2. Be cautious in areas that draw children, such as around parks and schools.